Art Gallery of the Ottawa Valley Seedling Committee from left to right: Nicole Zummach, Tanya Lyons, Claire Mahaffy, Marie Josée Lévesque, Linda Archibald, Peter Purdy, Anya Gansterer, Megan Spencer, Emily Stovel, Susan Artymko, Melissa Marquardt, Naomi Blondin, Aimee Bailey. Not pictured: Christine Luckasavitch, Chris Neff, Bil Smith, Anna MacDonald, Caitlin MacDonald, Anna Camilleri, Heather Inwood-Montrose, Cameron Montgomery, Christine Mitchell, Gabriella Salera and Kelly Lantendresse
Over the past year, Ottawa Valley Community Arts has been working diligently on a business plan for the upcoming Art Gallery of the Ottawa Valley (AGOV). After extensive research and community engagement, the plan was officially released on March 17th, during a meeting in Eganville with project partners and collaborators.
The AGOV will be a unique and interconnected network of galleries and programming spaces spread across the Ottawa Valley, including rural communities. The goal is to ensure that no one has to travel more than 30 minutes to access public art. The gallery will feature both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as dedicated areas for programming.
The project, inspired by nature and tree thinking, aims to be a sustainable and organic addition to the region’s arts landscape. It will be deeply rooted in land and community, connecting across the Ottawa Valley’s watersheds. This approach aims to create a public art space that nurtures participants, partners, and communities while growing in a meaningful and natural way.
The full name of the gallery is Awase Mazinibíhiganan Wábandjigádeg Pasadinág Kitchisipping, Art Gallery of the Ottawa Valley, Galerie d’art de la Vallée de l’Outaouais, acknowledging the unceded and unsurrendered Ancestral territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. The gallery will serve many diverse communities, fostering inclusivity and cultural connection.
The business plan was created with input from a variety of local organizations, including CRC Killaloe, Watershed, the Killaloe & District Public Library, and the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, among others. The project received funding from a Sector Innovation and Development Seed grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Looking ahead, the next steps include establishing a governance group, planning for sustainability, and beginning to set up the first gallery locations. Ottawa Valley Community Arts and its partners are excited to move forward with this innovative project, which will bring public art to the heart of the Ottawa Valley.
For those interested in learning more and staying updated on the AGOV’s progress, sign up for email updates at Ottawa Valley Community Arts.
(Written by: Emma Butler)